Dr. Allison Veach

Assistant Professor

Department of Integrative Biology

University of Texas at San Antonio

email: allison.veach@utsa.edu

google scholar link

faculty website link

Abby Doderer

M.Sc. in Biology student

Abby joined the lab as an undergraduate researcher in 2022. She graduated from UTSA with a BS in Microbiology & Immunology in 2023 and began her MS in Biology at UTSA in 2023. Her research is supported by an Edwards Aquifer Authority grant which aims to use constructed microbial metagenomes as state indicators in groundwater, which varies in influence from the contributing and recharge zone.

Pierce Lynch

PhD in Environmental Science & Engineering student

Pierce joined the lab in spring 2024. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a BS in Psychology in 2014 and a BS in Environmental Studies from University of North Carolina Asheville in 2022. She worked as a plant pathology research technician at North Carolina State University for 2 years prior to joining the lab. Pierce's research is part of an Edwards Aquifer Authority grant focused on understanding how landscape mangement techniques in semi-arid landscapes impact soil health indicators and water infiltration.

Beauxregard Martinez

B.S. in Environmental Science student

Beaux joined the lab in summer of 2024 as a research technician. He has overseen several lab activities regarding nutrient quantification and genomic DNA extractions from a diversity of habitats. He is currently working on extracting DNA from KR bluestem roots as part of a drought experiment.

Hannah Martinez

PhD in Environmental Science & Engineering Student

Hannah joined the lab in fall 2024. She received her B.S. in Agriculture from Texas State University in 2021 and her M.S. in Integrated Agricultural Sciences from TSU in 2023. Hannahs PhD research is funded through the USDA-NRCS to understand microbial community dynamics in urban land, rangelands, and grasslands and develop soil health indicators.

Lauren Miranda

B.S. in Environmental Science student

Lauren joined the lab in fall 2023 as a research technician. Similar to Beaux, she has overseen several lab activities including nutrient quantification, soil and groundwater processing, and genomic DNA extractions.

Aimee Steinbrecher

PhD in Environmental Science & Engineering

Aimee joined the lab in 2022. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a BS in Environmental Science and Management in 2020. She has worked for Terracon Consultants as a Staff Scientist since 2021. Aimee's research is aimed at understanding how management can increase freshwater quality and natural resource conservation. 

Mariana Vergara

M.S. in Environmental Science student

Mariana joined the lab in spring 2023. She graduated from the University of Incarnate Word in 2020 with a BS in Biology. She worked as a laboratory technician for an applied soils startup in Berkeley California prior to her joining the lab. Her research is supported by a DOE grant to track carbon flow in intermittent, urban rivers.

Amy Vester

M.Sc. in Biology student

Amy joined the lab as an undergraduate researcher in 2023. She received her BS in Microbiology & Immunology in 2023 and began her MS in Biology in 2024. Amy will be evaluating the impact of oak wilt disease on the Texas Live Oak microbiome below and aboveground.